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From CMC to Eibach= very happy :-)

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15K views 49 replies 28 participants last post by  VWebbo  
#1 · (Edited)
As promised to a couple of guys on here and also maybe a reference for others out there.
Not going to turn this into a slagging off CMC topic as I don't want it deleted;)

Van is 95/96 LWB hardboard lined, 12mm ply floor with carpet, 2 single seats up front. Original spring height of van from wheel arch to centre of wheel 405mm

Story goes~

Ordered CMC-60 HD springs advertised to 'still carry 1200kg' in weight (maybe a bit naive on my part?)
But wasn't happy with the supposed weight handling so I bought the Eibach -40 springs, comparison~

CMC -60 HD Spring
Image


Eibach -45 Spring on the left (Standard T4 spring on the right)
Image


CMC -60 HD on an unloaded van (drops suspension 40mm)
Image


Eibach -45 on an unloaded van (drops suspension 25mm)
Image


The CMC -60 springs dropped my van 40mm to 365mm whilst unloaded which was acceptable as I knew they were HD.
My job is transporting quite heavy equipment, sometimes up around the 1200kg mark but very rare. As the CMC springs were advertised to 'still carry1200kg' i thought these springs were a god send especially at a price of around £75 delivered.

After loading the van with 550kg (all my equipment has to be weighed for my job) the suspension dropped 70mm to 335mm. Obviously I was expecting a drop but thought there was no way these springs would take 1200kg

So I thought about using another rubber plate at the top of the spring just to give it a boost and a guy on here (Chris) gave me some rubber mat which I cut out and inserted above the other rubber plate as seen here
Image


This raised the unloaded van up 15mm so my new ride height was 380mm

I loaded the van up to see what would happen and I suddenly found that adding another 61kg (611kg) it bottomed the van out so it sat solid on the bumpstops
Image

Image



As my equipment can vary from job to job I knew these springs would be no good, even tried spring assister inserts which did help but I didn't want to mess about anymore especially as I already had the 2 rubber plates inserted!

So I got my money back from CMC, the guy never gave me an explanation about why he states the springs 'still carry 1200kg'.

I learnt the hard way!

Last week I fitted the Eibach springs, bit more money at £156 but well worth it.
As I said above the unloaded drop was 25mm bringing it to exactly the same as the CMC -60 with 2 rubber plates helping them.

So both springs unloaded the ride sat at 380mm
Here's a picture of the Eibach springs with 664kg! (remember the CMC springs bottomed out at 611kg)
Image

Image


In the second picture you'll notice the smaller pigtail springs are no longer in use and the weight is being taken by the thicker rings. The thicker rings on the CMC springs are bunched together just by the load of the van.

The ride on both springs whilst unloaded is very good, when both are loaded with 550kg the CMC hit the bump stops often, the Eibach on the other hand is brilliant. No hitting the bump stops and roundabouts I get so much less of a lean!

Now I'll make you make the decisions what you would buy.............


(all figures were written down when I had the CMC springs and I have written letters between myself and the owner of CMC a couple months ago to back up what I have written. Maybe I'm being a bit fussy about what weights I carry and even CMC made a comment about my measurements when I said they dropped 70mm with 550kg ~
'Please try not to look into it too much after all a difference in overall drop of 10mm is hardly a massive amount in the grand scheme of things.'
Click to expand...
Perhaps, but people want to know what their springs can handle don't they...........?)
 
#3 ·
loaded or unloaded?!

I imagine you want unloaded?

Well I have one of the CMC -60 HD springs but forgot to take one of the Eibachs unloaded.
If you want one of the Eibachs unloaded you'll have to wait until SundayT:

I only have pictures of the wheel, not the whole van like this~
CMC Unloaded
Image
 
#5 ·
Gilbz said:
loaded or unloaded?!

I imagine you want unloaded?

Well I have one of the CMC -60 HD springs but forgot to take one of the Eibachs unloaded.
If you want one of the Eibachs unloaded you'll have to wait until SundayT:
Click to expand...
I was thinking unloaded. I just wondered what the difference looked like. Don't go to any extra effort, it was only if you had the pics T:

Cheers
 
#6 ·
Will have to catch up with you sometime buddy as I'm running a pair of springs that begin with "J" I: on a 2.6T Velle and regularly frequent the bumpstops :D

Eventually (funds dictating) will be looking into the eibachs on a 40mm drop to fit my 9J rears I:
 
#9 ·
Poop! It was tonight I was going along to the meet up wasn't it?
Sorry if it was. Been a hell of a day driving to Bristol to get the 4 wheel alignment done etc. Completely slipped my mind.

Chippy if you fancy meeting up bring a trolley jack and we'll whip my springs off and load them onto yours! Just don't drive off with them lol!LOL:
 
#11 ·
I made the swop from original cmc springs, not HD, as one of the springs snapped in half!!!
It was lower on cmc but in my opinion that's not as valued as quality of ride, which you definately get with eibachs.
Worth every penny, no more banging and crashing on the bumpstops since changing :ILU:
 
#18 ·
iv got EX AA van and just measured mine from centre of wheel to the arch and its 435mm ,so if i put eibachs on will it lower it 25mm or will it take it down to 380mm witch that would be 55mm ,and iv just looked at the bumper stops and theres about 4 to 5 inch between from it bottoming out cheers karl
 
#20 ·
I believe my van used to have older versions of the CMC springs and it didn't take a whole lot of weight, but then without knowing the specifics of the springs I wouldn't say that was wrong - it is a full conversion anyway.

Anyway, as these were looking tired, and some people (More advanced in years than me) wanted to borrow my van for a trip to Europe, I took the opportunity to buy some T4sRUS HD -50s.

What a set of springs they are - they raised the van slightly to a bit higher than it used to be (Never had it as standard so no idea what drop is) and are nice and firm.

They also take weight extremely well. I put an estimated half tonne of stuff in the back for a tip run the other week and the ride was fine - no bottoming out at all!

Anyway, Whilst Eibach may have the edge over these, I'd be hard pushed to find a reason to part with the money especially as springs are only part of the equation on ride (Let's not forget torsion bars, shocks, wheels and tyres or even the state of the various bushes/other components)!

Dave
 
#27 ·
I fitted my eibach's 2 weeks ago and love them. I'd been driving around for 5 years with jamex spring and crappy yellow shocks.

The ride is sooo much more comfy now.
I just need to get new shocks now but not sure what to do for the best. should I just go stock or performance? I know a lot of people rate the gaz shocks but have heard a few bad reports stating that they haven't lasted as long as you would expect.
Might go for the hd sachs ones.:*
 
N
#30 ·
i fitted some yellow "higher pressure than standard" shocks that were ~£90 a set, they were utter pants..
the front upper bushes are almost half the size of standrd VW, the washers are thinner so they come with twice the number, one of the upper fittings was unmachined so they were a sod to torque down and hold with a pipe wrench.
And they made the van bounce like mad... SAVE YOUR MONEY..

they may be "higher pressure" but the internal valving must have been made of cheese..

save your £90 and put it towards propper HD shocks, either Bilstien, Gaz or the HD Sachs as fitted to ambulances / syncro...
I went with the HD Sachs from a brick worker type chap... they are brilliant..

the yellow £90 carp lasted ~3months 1200miles and ended up in the recycling skip, utter rubbish, your worn out VW shocks are better.
 
#32 ·
OOOOOOH I'm very happy with these springs now!

Had to load a bit more equipment so with 2 passengers I carried 931kg. The bump stops on the back were about an inch apart but whilst driving through the country roads of Glastonbury I didn't feel any hard bangs going over pots holes or anything.

These Eibachs are worth their weight in gold, if you carry heavu gear or tow then don't go for the CMC 'HD' springs!
I wonder what the HD stands for?:confused:
 
#35 ·
Bought Eibachs as soon as I purchased the van, I've had them on my Focus ST, Passat TDI and now the T4 and love the ride quality, the drop is a little on the tame side and the van nose dives slightly until the furniture and bed is fitted but I guess it's a small price to pay.

I would advise anyone who is planning on dropping their van from stock to do the maths and buy the Eibachs 1st time around, hopw may people have spent the £70 odd quid and later swapped to a different cheap set prior to forking out for Eibachs, total cost then way exceeds the inital £160 the Eibachs would have cost.

Obviously I can only speak for Eibach and Jamex as my mate has the Jamex on his, their is simply no comparison to the ride quality.
 
#36 ·
To answer the guys above!
My job entails working late at night so often get pulled by the cops. Having a slightly lowered van and huge weights makes it look overloaded!
Some of my mates have been put on weigh bridges and fined for excessive weight in trailers and vans.

If I know what's in the back then I can smugly smile whilst the check is made!
Plus I need the weights of equipment health & safety and PLI.

It has also helped you guys who is considering new springs, don't be fooled by companies who claim theirs are HD, which in time you were realise you were 'Heavily Done'! Ok that's the best I can do! I was done out of a of money by CMC'S claims.

Listen to the last poster, read and read again..... over acnd out! ;)
 
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